Earlier this week, Governor Sonny Perdue signed the Water
Stewardship Act into law. This means that we have a new set of outdoor water rules.

These
rules include a conservation piece that does not allow for outdoor
irrigation between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. However, some
forms of efficient irrigation and uses critical to the industry are
exempt from this ban. A simple rule of thumb is this: you should avoid spray irrigation between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00
p.m. If they are hand-watering, using drip irrigation or any of the
other methods listed below, they can do so with no hourly restrictions.

For production, retail and landscape installation
applications, the exemptions listed below give you the ability to
conduct business also without restrictions. As always, we should educate others and practice ourselves Best Management Practices and to WATER SMART.

One final note of caution; many water providers
across the state have not officially adopted these new rules and EPD has
not made an official rule change. However, state law trumps any local
rules and this new schedule became the law of the land the minute it was
signed. GGIA is here to assist you should you have any problems with
your water provider concerning the new rules. Please let us know if you
experience any difficulties.

Know When to Water!

New rules for outdoor water use went
into effect on June 1, 2010. The green industry wants you to WATER
SMART!

Outdoor landscape irrigation is now
allowed 7 days per week between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Outdoor irrigation is not allowed
between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with the exception of the
following uses:

Irrigation of personal food gardens

Irrigation of new and
replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports
turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately
following the date of in-stallation

Drip irrigation or
irrigation using soaker hoses

Hand-watering with a hose
with automatic cutoff or handheld container

Irrigation of
horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation